Top 5 cream blushes you need in your collection

If you’ve been keeping up with my blog, you’ll know that cream products are my ultimate preference when it comes to makeup textures. I think creams look the most natural on the skin; they offer softness and dewiness, and as a person with dry skin they provide a certain amount of hydration as well. If you’re oily or have acne, your skin’s chemistry may not agree with creams so powders might be better for you.

I did a post about my favorite cream eye shadows – which you can read here if you’re interested – but today it’s all about cream blushes. I absolutely love blush. I have really pale skin, so I find that blush is an irreplaceable step in my makeup routine. It gives life to my face and lifts my complexion. On those days when you feel like crap and haven’t slept well, apply some blush on your cheeks. I guarantee it will make you appear (not feel) well-rested and fresh. Even if I’m having a “no-makeup makeup,” I never skip blush. It’s like skipping mascara. It ain’t gonna happen.

So here are my top 5 cream blush recommendations, in no particular order. These are all long-time favorites of mine that I adore equally, and I think you will too!  Just a quick note, this is less about specific colors and more about the formula of these products. But I do mention the colors I have for your reference.

1. Baby Doll Kiss & Blush from YSL – $40.00

I love these so much I originally had 3 in my collection. Now I have 2 and honestly I can’t imagine not having them. They’re actually a 2-in-1 product for lips and cheeks, although I’ve never tried them on my lips before. YSL describes the texture as “air-whipped mousse,” although I find it more of a semi-gel texture personally. They are formulated with hyaluronic acid & emollients that really help the product to blend seamlessly into the skin. This is the only product mentioned in this list that has an applicator (pictured directly below), which makes it very user friendly. I lightly tap the applicator with the product onto my cheeks and then I stipple the color into my skin. That’s it. And this stuff really lasts on the cheeks throughout the day.

It comes in loads of colors, but just be a bit careful with some of the darker shades. They take more work to blend out and can look patchy sometimes. I have shades #10 (a deep rosy-pink, pictured above & in swatches below) and #3 (a bright pink, not pictured here).

2. Convertible Color from Stila – $25.00

I love, love, love these! I’ve been using them for years in my makeup routine. This is another 2-in-1 product for lips and cheeks, but while I find the formula super moisturizing on the cheeks it can be a bit drying on my lips (oddly). So I stick to using it as a blush. I just love the effect it gives my skin. It adds brightness and dewiness, and it blends so, so easily. I apply a few dabs on either cheek and again, just tap lightly with my fingers. I’ve also taken this traveling with me on many occasions, which is a true sign that I love a product! And I’m not the only one who loves this formula. For 12 years the beauty editors at Instyle voted this “Best Cream Blush.” It comes in just 4 shades; I have Lilium, a mid-tone warm pink.

3. lip2cheek from RMS Beauty – $36.00

Yup, another 2-in-1 product! Yet again, I just stick to using this on my cheeks. It can stain your lips very nicely but I usually stay away from stains as they tend to get drying as the day progresses. But on the cheeks, this stuff is magic. The texture is very creamy but a little on the thick side so work slowly with this and build up. I think this product really benefits from the warmth of your fingers to melt it into the skin. Just remember that a little goes a long way. This is especially true with the color I have, Modest, which is a much brighter version of shade #10 from YSL. After I tap it into my cheeks, I find this formula stains very nicely and stays quite vibrant throughtout the day. Totally a winner in my book. There are 9 shades to choose from.

If you’re not familiar with RMS, they are a completely organic brand that’s free of glutens, GMOs, & soy. All of their products are cruelty-free and are made from raw, food-grade ingredients. If you go to their website you’ll see just how transparent they are in regards to the ingredients they use, the science behind their formulations and their committment to providing cleaner beauty to the community. Most of their products are packaged in recycled and reusable glass components. I’m very curious about this brand now and would love to try more products.

4. Chubby Stick Cheek Colour Balm from Clinique – $23.00

I love this product so much for two main reasons. Firstly, it’s uber-convenient to use considering it’s in stick form. You could simply swipe it on your cheeks straight from the stick and blend in with your fingers for quick, quick application. This has made its way into my makeup travel bag several times for this reason. Secondly, the color stays on my cheeks all day which is tricky for a lot of blush formulas. Blush can easily fade halfway through the day especially in the sweaty months of the summer. But this one has some staying power, so automatic thumbs up from me. And to top it off, it blends in like an absolute dream. Clinique uses “mistake-proof” as a buzz phrase on their site, and I completely agree. I think I’ll always have this formula in my collection.

It comes in just 4 shades; the color I have is Amp’d Up Apple, another slightly deep rosy-pink. Since it is a Clinique product, you can be assured there are no parabens, phthalates or fragrance.

5. Aqua Beauty Blush & Bronzer Duo from e.l.f. Cosmetics – $6.00

This is the newest to me out of this whole list and I’m absolutely loving the texture of this one. It’s part of e.l.f.’s Aqua Beauty range where all the products have been infused with purified water and Vitamin E to create this beautiful cream-to-powder formula. Usually I avoid cream-to-powder on my dry skin but this leaves me with a slightly dewy feeling after application. It’s a compact so perfect for the on-the-go use and the blending is super easy. Just go a bit slowly since the colors can pack a punch. While I usually don’t wear bronzer, I’ve found myself time and time again reaching for it just as much as the blush. (I’m becoming more and more bewitched by cream bronzers these days, but that’s a blog post for another day.)

There are only 3 color combos for this duo; I have the compact in Bronzed Pink Beige. This is by far the coolest, brightest pink of the bunch as seen in the swatches above. If you’re not aware, e.l.f. products are both vegan & cruelty-free.

What are your favorite blushes (cream or powder)? Do you have a top 5 list? I’d love to know!

xo, Erica